Harris Fort Bend ESD #100 Partners with Calibre-S2O to Build State-of-the-Art Swiftwater Rescue Training Facility in Houston
Harris Fort Bend Emergency Services District #100 (HFBESD100) has partnered with Calibre Engineering and its S2O Whitewater Division (Calibre-S2O) to design and construct the Swift Water Training for Operation and Rescue Missions (STORM) Ranch, a cutting-edge training center focused on flood response and swiftwater rescue. This new facility, located on a 27-acre site in Houston near Mission Bend, is set to become one of the world’s most advanced urban flood rescue training environments.
With flooding being the number one weather-related cause of death in Texas, it is crucial for first responders to be equipped with the skills necessary to handle swiftwater rescues and other water-related emergencies. As climate change and urban development increase the frequency of flooding in Texas, the demand for specialized training for first responders continues to grow. To address this pressing need, HFBESD100 has committed to developing a state-of-the-art training center that will provide essential preparation for flood rescue missions and more.
A site map depicting the upcoming STORM Ranch facility in Houston. (Source: Calibre Engineering)The $65 million STORM Ranch facility will feature a variety of training elements, including a large swift-water channel, a 2.2-acre dive and flatwater training pond, and an urban flood rescue simulator. This simulator will allow rescue personnel to train in flooded streets and buildings, mimicking the conditions of a real-world flood event. The facility's innovative design will allow water to be pumped into a mock village with streets and buildings, enabling emergency response teams to practice rescues in a true urban environment.
"This facility will be invaluable in its ability to deliver vital hands-on training," said Dale Terry, Board President of HFBESD100. "Regional emergency response teams will no longer depend on finding a creek or river flowing at an ideal level to create the proper conditions for this vital training. With just the push of a button, the water can be turned on and off, providing a more realistic environment and allowing us to train more first responders to be fully ready for the next hurricane."
The STORM Ranch facility is designed to simulate a wide range of rescue scenarios, including boat, vehicle, and high-ropes rescues, in addition to training for flood response and swiftwater rescues. The project’s “Main Street” area will include a two-story residential building, a sunken residential building with a pitched roof, a high ropes tower, and a mock two-story care facility with a flat roof. Realistic streetscape features such as narrowed street intersections, utility poles, and a rocky gorge area will provide a highly dynamic setting for rescue drills.
Additionally, the facility will feature a classroom training center, retail space, housing for visiting trainees, and a cafeteria. The STORM Ranch is expected to train up to 6,000 personnel annually, including local and regional emergency response teams.
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Calibre-S2O, known for its expertise in whitewater park design, is the lead designer for the facility. Their team, led by Scott Shipley, a three-time Olympian and World Cup Kayak Champion, is renowned for creating innovative river engineering and community-focused whitewater parks. In the past, Calibre-S2O has designed some of the world’s best in-stream whitewater parks, including the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC, Riversports Rapids in Oklahoma City, and the Lee Valley Whitewater Center in London, which hosted the 2012 Olympics.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with ESD #100 on creating a state-of-the-art water rescue training facility that will greatly benefit the city and the region,” said Shipley. “While we typically focus on creating whitewater parks for recreation, designing this facility to train first responders is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. It’s a chance to apply our expertise in a way that truly makes a difference.”
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
